NBA crowns King James as MVP

An unstoppable offensive force who became an elite defender this
season, James claimed the league MVP, receiving the award in the gym
where he first became a star.

“This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought
they could become real,” James said. “There’s really not a better
place.”

The Ohio kid anointed King James as a teenager has a new crown.

An MVP vote some expected to be close was another slam dunk by
James. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily
outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1,172
points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.

“I’m 24 years old and I’m receiving this award, I never thought it
would happen this fast,” he said, standing under three state title
banners he helped win for the Fighting Irish. “I never dreamed about
being MVP, but if I said I didn’t enjoy this award I’d be lying. Hard
work pays off and dreams do come true.”

James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged
28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a
pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the
year, making him perhaps the league’s most dominant two-way player
since Michael Jordan.

James credited his Cavaliers teammates, who attended the ceremony
along with coach Mike Brown, for raising their games in Cleveland’s
best season ever. The Cavs went 66-16, 39-2 at home and earned the top
seed in the playoffs — a franchise first.

“Individual accolades come when team success happens,” James said.
“You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them.
They put in the work.”

James invited his teammates to the podium and presented each with an expensive camera.

“My mission hasn’t been completed,” James said. “I still I have a
lot of things I want to do this season. I want to have another
celebration in June.”

With his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, and their two sons sitting
up front, James thanked his family, friends and former teammates during
a touching speech. Promising not to cry, he spoke fondly of his mom,
who struggled to raise her only son.